Artificial embankment.



E. H. NIES.

Ammann EMBANKMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.31,1912.

' Patnted A191229, 1913.

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ARTIFICIAL EMBANKMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 31, 1912.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

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EDWARD HARIION NIES, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

ARTIFICIAL EMBANKMENT.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented apr. as, isis.

Application led October 31, 1912. Serial No. 728,764.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD IIARMON Nilis, of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Artificial Embankments, which improvement is fully set forth in thefollowing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to artificial embankments designed for useon rivers or other bodies of water and an object of the invention is toprovide a construction which may be used either as a current deflectorfor deepening and narrowing river beds or as a protector for spoilbanks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which maybe formed from inexpensive material, and which, at the same time, willhave suflicient lateral strength to withstand displacement.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain parts andco-mbinations of parts all of which will be hereinafter described, thenovel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the river equipped with thepresent improvements; Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the river;Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the river showing another embodimentof the invention; Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the manner in whichthe current deflector is supported over depres sions in the river bed;and Fig. 5 is a section through a spoil bank employing the improvedconstruction.

In some part-s of the United States, and more particularly in thewestern parts, the rivers are becoming shallower and wider so thatduring spring freshets,.they spread out over great areas causing a greatdeal of damage bot-h to life and to property. It has been known for someyears that these inundations can be prevented by forming permanent ornon-washable embankments which will confine the river to a narrow courseand, in this way, the river is caused to cut a deeper channel, making,in some instances, navigable waterways where before navigation wasimpossible.

According t-o this invention there is provided an inexpensiveconstruction which will be more durable and more liable to collectmaterial from the waters for forming the artificial embankments, thisconstruction being also adapted for protecting spoil banks.

Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. l and 2,l indicates the waterway and 2 the channel on opposite sides of whichare arranged current deflectors. Ihese defiectors comprise a series ofwire mesh sections arranged end to end along the opposite sides of theriver bed, preferably, between two series of posts which are arranged instaggered relation, said posts being driven into the river bed. Thesections are made of wire mesh and are bent into inverted U-shape,providing two upright portions 4, and a curved portion 5 connecting theupper parts or portions of the upright portions. rlhe lower ends of theupright portions are turned laterally and preferably outwardly tostrengthen their lower edges, and, at the same time, to provide feet forresting upon the river bed. These feet, in time, will be come coveredwith dirt or debris and serve as anchors. The sections are tied to theposts 3 in any suit-able manner but preferably by means of hooks 7anchored in the posts and having wire `ties 8 connecting them with thesections.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the sectioncomprises an upright portion 4a having a curved portion 52 along itsupper edge formed by bending the wire mesh laterally; and also having alaterally extending portion 6a at its lower edge forming a rest. Vireties 8 and hooks 7 may be employed for securing these sections to theposts 3.

In both of these embodiments, the upright portions 4 or 4a collect thesand and debris while the curved portions at the upper portions o-f theupright portions serve to retain floating debris. In the embodimentshown in Figs. 1 and 2, part of the dirt, sand and debris will be washedthrough the inner upright portion 4 because of the greater agitation onthis portion, but most of this debris, dirt or sand will be caught bythe second upright portion and the iioating particles will be trapped bythe connecting portion 5 so that eventually a solid embankment will beformed, the po-sts 3 serving to strengthen the same. The embodimentshown in Fig. 3 also traps floating debris by the curved portion 52along the upper edges of the sections.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the

parts are the same as in Figs. 1 and 2 eX- cept that the deflector isshown supported over a sink hole or depression 9 in the river bed. Thisis eected by connecting a iioat 10 to a rod 11 which projects u awardlyfrom the section. This iioat will old the sec` tion off the bottom whilethe posts 3 vwill prevent sidewise displacement.

The sections are also adapted for use as spoil bank protectors as shownin F ig. 5 wherein two rows of osts 3a are irst driven and one row ofsections is then positioned between the posts in a position invertedrelatively to that shown in Fig. 2. After the dirt is distributed aboutthis row of sections, another row of sections is placed above the firstmentioned row and has the dirt distributed within and about the same. Asa spoil bank protector, these sections provide a very durableconstruction as the dirt lies within them in such a manner that they arevery strong laterally.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An artificial embankment comprising a plurality of sections arrangedend to end and each formed of wire mesh bent into U- shape in crosssection vand having laterally turned portions along the opposite edges.

2. An artificial embankment comprising two series of posts, and aplurality of sections arranged end to end between the posts and securedto the latter.

3. An artificial embankment comprising two series of posts, and aplurality of sections arranged end to end between the posts, saidsections being formed of wire mesh bent into U-shape in cross section.

4. A current deiector embodying a plurality of sections arranged end toend, each section being formed of wire mesh bent into inverted U-shapein cross section and having laterally turned feet resting upon the riverbed'.

5. A current deflector comprising two series of posts, and a pluralityof sections arranged end to end between the posts, each section beingformed of wire mesh and having a curved portion along its upper edge.

6. A current' deflector comprising two series of posts, and a pluralityof sections arranged end to end between the posts, said sections beingformed of wire mesh and bent into inverted U-shape in cross section.

7. A currentdeflector comprising two series of posts and a plurality ofsections arranged end to end between the posts, said sections beingformed of wire mesh material of inverted U-shape in cross section andhaving outwardly turned edges resting o-n the river bed.

EDWARD HARMON NIES.

Witnesses:

HAROLD H. SIMMS, ADA M. WHITMORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

